Lawyers e-Journal

Thursday, May. 6, 2010

MBA Vice President Douglas K. Sheff

MBA vice president to receive inaugural Excellence in Advocacy Award

Massachusetts Bar Association Vice President Douglas K. Sheff
will be honored with the President's Award for Excellence in
Advocacy from the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys this
May. Sheff is being recognized for his representation of children
and adults who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. This is the
first time the award will be presented.

"Doug's representation of TBI victims sets the standard in
representing the underrepresented for the trial bar," said MATA
President Christopher Milne, who will present Sheff with the award
on May 19 at the academy's annual dinner in Newton. A past
president of MATA, Sheff has served on its Board of Governors for
more than 20 years.

Sheff has represented clients with TBI since 1984. A combination
of cutting edge advocacy and proper utilization of medical
technologies has enabled him to deliver consistently favorable
results on his clients' behalf.

Currently serving his second term as MBA vice president, Sheff is
also a member of the MBA's Executive Management Board and Budget
and Finance Committee. In addition, he served as MBA secretary in
2007-08 and as chair of the MBA Civil Litigation Section in
2005-06. Sheff also serves as chair of the MBA Membership Committee
and has chaired the MBA Annual Dinner Committee.

"This high honor is a reminder of the tireless commitment of
attorneys on behalf of their clients. Doug's example of
professionalism and altruism has had an immeasurable impact in MBA
leadership and the larger Massachusetts legal community," said MBA
President Valerie A. Yarashus.

In addition to his professional affiliations in the commonwealth,
Sheff holds the title of governor to the American Association of
Justice, where he has spent more than 20 years working nationally
and locally on issues that affect the trial bar. Elected by his
national peers, Sheff chairs the AAJ's State Delegates and served
as chair of its Council of Presidents. Sheff is a recipient of the
AAJ's Next Generation Award and a five-time recipient of its
Wiedeman Wysocki Award.

Sheff has also been appointed a trustee of the National College of
Advocacy, which provides education for lawyers across the United
States. Also, he received the ORT Award for integrity in the law
and has been recognized by the publication, "Lifesavers," for
preventing injury through aggressive representation of victims of
defective products.